Compositions and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor

Abstract

The present invention is directed to compositions of matter useful for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor in mammals and to methods of using those compositions of matter for the same.

1 .- 16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . A method of inhibiting the growth of a cell that expresses a protein having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity to: 
 (a) the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:5;    (b) the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:5, lacking its associated signal peptide; or    (c) a polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;    the method comprising contacting the cell with an antibody that binds to the protein, wherein the binding of the antibody to the protein causes an inhibition of the growth of the cell.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the antibody is an antibody fragment.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the antibody is a chimeric, humanized, or human antibody.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the antibody is conjugated to a growth inhibitory agent.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the antibody is conjugated to a cytotoxic agent.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the cytotoxic agent is a toxin, an antibiotic, a radioactive isotope, or a nucleolytic enzyme.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the cytotoxic agent is a toxin.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the toxin is a maytansinoid or a calicheamicin.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the toxin is a maytansinoid.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the antibody is produced in bacteria.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the antibody is produced in CHO cells.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cell is a cancer cell.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the cancer cell is further exposed to radiation or a chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the cancer cell is a breast cancer cell, a colorectal cancer cell, a lung cancer cell, or an ovarian cancer cell.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the protein is more abundantly expressed by the cancer cell as compared to a normal cell of the same tissue origin.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the antibody induces cell death.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the protein comprises: 
 (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5;    (b) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, lacking its associated signal peptide sequence; or    (c) an amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the protein has cytostatin activity.